16 Romantic Movies That A Guy Won't Hate

Since the beginning of time (we’re talking at least the late 70′s), guys have been dragged off to their fair share of chick flicks, rom-coms, and gooey tearjerkers. Especially around this time of year. But does it always have to be a painful experience?

Contrary to what you may think, most guys don’t have a problem with a proper love story. It’s the packaging that matters. So while we may cringe at the Romance section at Blockbuster, the truth is you could probably find a few movies in there we’d genuinely enjoy. So ladies, if you’re looking for that perfect movie to help set the mood this Valentine’s Day, but don’t want to scare him off with too much lovey dovey dribble, consult our list of Romantic Movies You Can Get A Guy To Sit Through. We’ve broken the list up into convenient categories to help you figure out what kind of an angle you want to go for when selling the idea of movie night to your guy, too. Take a look!

THE DIRTY JOKES

These movies have romance, sure, but they’ve also got plenty of vulgar humor to make the mushy stuff go down more easily.

4. The Girl Next Door

This is one of those movies that didn’t make a tremendous amount of buzz when it came out, but has held up and even gained some popularity over the years. Emile Hirsch’s breakout film finds him as the fortunate boy with a new girl next door who’s not only a bombshell, but an ex-porn star to boot. Though Elisha Cuthbert never quite capitalized on the exposure (no pun intended) the film earned her, she’s pitch perfect as the tough but ultimately vulnerable Danielle. Although the best part of the film is Timothy Olyphant’ as the shady porn director/producer Kelly. It is hilariously off-key.

Toss a few porn star cameos, a porn convention, and the making of a porn video, and any guy will gladly sit through this surprisingly fun flick.

Really, several Judd Apatow flicks could have filled this slot, but we’re going with this one because not only does it have one of the more endearing romantic plotlines, but we’re banking it’s the one your boyfriend’s least likely to have seen (based on how it did at the box office anyway–a modest $63 million). Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, and Russell Brand all shot to greater heights with this film, and deservedly so. All three of them turned in memorable performances (particularly Brand’s unapologetic Aldous Snow). Leading man Jason Segel shows more skin than we’d like, but the mixture of tongue-in-cheek sappiness and bawdy sex jokes makes for a winning combination.

2. Wedding Crashers

Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson made one helluva on-screen duo when they teamed up for this comedy about two buddies who crash weddings to score with chicks. Fast-talking sex jokes and blatant gratuitous-nudity montages fulfill the dirty joke department, but the romance that blossoms between Wilson and Rachel McAdams makes this film worth catching on Valentine’s Day. This is the Rachel McAdams movie you can get him to watch.

1. There’s Something About Mary

The Farrelly Brothers’ 1998 comedy propelled Cameron Diaz to being one of the biggest actresses in Hollywood, and the object of every guy’s desire. It didn’t hurt that the movie was a riot and managed to be heartfelt without an abundance of cheese. Ben Stiller’s “hair gel” fiasco also goes down as one of the most awkward/disgusting/hilarious scenes to ever be put down on celluloid. And if you get nothing else out of this movie, Brett Favre’s cameo at the end is worth seeing just for the sheer what-the-hell-is-he-doing-in-this-movie awesomeness of it all.

THE QUIRKY ROMANCES

These films all have a little special oomph that set them apart from easy categorization, but are nonetheless great films any guy would enjoy.

4. Mr. & Mrs. Smith

Though this film may be forever remembered for all of the drama that took place behind the scenes, the stuff they got down on film wasn’t too shabby either. Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, shit blowing up. Do I really need to say more? This movie just oozes with charm, and the chemistry between the two leads is undeniable.

3. Chasing Amy

Back when Kevin Smith couldn’t miss, Chasing Amy was his opus to love, even the kind with a fucked up and complicated woman who no guy had any business chasing after (her being a lesbian and all). And it worked. It fit perfectly with Kevin Smith’s unique style that he started with Clerks, but had enough pizzazz for newcomers to enjoy as well. Yes, there’s an epic confession of love that happens in the rain, but still, a great movie both sexes can enjoy, orientation be damned.

Bill Murray‘s classic comedy employs a conceit that’s a bit overused nowadays–a guy relives the same day again and again–but does it deftly. It’s funny, it’s insightful, it’s Bill Murray at his best. Harold Ramis was also at his peak as a writer/director, and this could be argued as his last undeniable masterpiece. Part of pop culture lexicon nowadays, Groundhog Day is one of those films a guy’ll sit through simply because it’s become so ubiquitous that it’s now something you just have to watch. And both of you will enjoy it, too.

1. The Princess Bride

A cult classic, this delightfully ridiculous spin on medieval fantasy is as enjoyable now as it was when it first came out in 1987. Rob Reiner cemented himself as one of the most relevant directors of the 80′s with this film, and any guy can appreciate the (mostly) lighthearted fun and heroics of screenwriter William Goldman’s adaptation of his own book. Girls will dig the love story that lays at the heart of this film, and no one can argue against this earnest and witty adventure.

THE MUSHIER SIDES

These movies are only thinly-veiled romances, but they’ve got enough for a guy to get giddy for.

3. 50 First Dates

Our Adam Sandler entry for this list marks his second collaboration with Drew Barrymore, and it’s both funny and heartfelt. Sandler made his name off making guys across America laugh, and this movie is no exception. Girls get a purported fifty times their money’s worth — instead of boy meets girl, boy and girl fall in love, the end, we get a bevy of rinse-and-repeats. Sandler’s hapless Henry is forced to make Barrymore’s memory-impaired Lucy fall in love with him time and time again. The end result will make the ladies gush, and the guys won’t be too far behind. If you’re looking for more textured Sandler fare, Punch-Drunk Love and Spanglish also make excellent choices, but they’d probably be harder sells to the general male population.

2. The Sure Thing

You knew John Cusack had to make an appearance on this list somewhere, right? We’ll skip past the more iconic Say Anything and go instead with the lesser-watched The Sure Thing. Rob Reiner’s first feature after he broke out with This Is Spinal Tap was also John Cusack’s first shot at being a leading man. This fun flick follows Cusack as he embarks on a cross country trip for an easy lay, only to be stuck traveling with a conservative and opinionated girl (Spaceballs‘ Daphne Zuniga). Hate turns to love somewhere across the continental U.S., but the watchability of Cusack makes this an easy one to sit through. Also check it out for bizarro 80′s versions of Anthony Edwards, Nicollette Sheridan, and Tim Robbins.

1. Jerry Maguire

The ultimate chick flick cleverly camouflaged in neat sports wrapping. The story of sports agent Jerry Maguire was good enough to be Oscar-nominated, but to really rope your guy in, just sell the fact that it’s about sports, showing me the money, and more sports. By the time they realize it’s a chick flick they’ll already be sucked in, and when Tom Cruise drops the You-Complete-Me bomb, they’ll be helpless in fighting off this movie’s heart.

THE CLASSICS

These movies are all classic films in their own ways, and guys will sit through them for that fact alone.

4. Annie Hall

Woody Allen‘s classic look at the romance between a neurotic comedian and the ditzy Annie Hall is perhaps his most popular film to date. Diane Keaton’s Annie Hall also probably serves as the original model for all Manic Pixie Dream Girls in the modern era, and what guy doesn’t love himself a MPDG? Check out this flick for the quirky comedy and classic Woody moments.

3. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

The most cerebral film on this list also contains one of its most believable relationships. Michel Gondry stamped himself firmly into the annals of film history with this take on a man and woman who erase each other from their respective memories after their relationship sours. Charlie Kaufman may have spun an out-of-this-world premise into the screenplay, but he imbues the story with realistic characters who are flawed and nuanced in completely organic ways. Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet are superb as the leads, and the supporting cast isn’t anything to scoff at either. I still think this should have been Winslet’s first Oscar win. Check it out for inventive filmmaking at its best.

2. Forrest Gump

I remain convinced that only those with a cold, dead soul don’t like this movie. It’s one of the most epic love stories ever told, and it’s done by mixing in equal amounts of nostalgia, social relevance, and classic American iconography. Tom Hanks‘ Oscar-winning performance remains one of his best to date. Guys will watch this for the rock and roll, intense war scenes, and shrimping boat escapades, but they’ll stay for Forrest’s endearing spirit, the faithful camaraderie he provides, and the simple goodness he inspires. A bit cheesy? Sure, but still all around wholesome goodness. And bonus points for being another endlessly quotable movie.

Humphrey Bogart was a badass–let me just lay that out there. He was the kind of hard-nosed man’s man that we don’t see as much of today, so why not revisit the past with one of the greatest films ever made? It holds up remarkably well despite being made in 1942, and has at least six of the most memorable movie quotes of all time. There’s no real need to have to convince someone to watch this; just do it.

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So there you have it–a variety of options to ensure at least one happy ending on Valentine’s Day (or bittersweet, in some cases). What do you guys think about our list? Have anything you want to add? Sound off below!<

"Fifty First Dates" was not so bad until the end. They have a child together, but she still can't remember anything? She wakes up every day to a film about her life? What about all those days she woke up pregnant and couldn't remember being pregnant the day before? To me that seems incredibly disturbing! I'd rather watch "The Wedding Singer" any day.